AQHA Racing champion owner and breeder Gary Muller passed away earlier this month.

© McGilley State Line Chapel

KANSAS CITY, MO–JUNE 28, 2024–AQHA Racing champion owner and breeder Gary L. Muller, 77, of Kansas City passed away on Friday, June 7th, 2024.

A private memorial service will be held for the family. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation www.parkinson.org

Gary was born on December 2nd, 1946, to Dorothy and Earl Muller. His parents instilled in him a hard work ethic on their farm near Newman Grove, Nebraska. He graduated from Newman Grove High School in 1964, where he dated and married his high school sweetheart, Lola Johnson.

He was a veteran who enlisted in the Army and was an Air Force Reservist. He participated in ROTC while attending the University of Nebraska. He graduated in 1968 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and was a member of the Ag Men Fraternity.

He continued his education in Actuarial sciences and, at the very young age of 25, became a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries. He began his professional career as an actuary and held various positions within the Life Insurance field, the most notable being President and later CEO of Americo Life, Inc. in Kansas City.

He loved sports throughout his lifetime, including Nebraska (Go BIG RED) and Chief's football, golf, skiing, tennis, horse racing and basketball. He loved traveling to the beach and attending sporting events with his family.

According to Equibase stats, Gary started 1697 Quarter Horses, won 126 races, and earned more than $3.7 million under the name Muller Racing LLC.

He campaigned champion Ocean Runaway, champion Sterling Sport, and Grade 1 winner Shinning First Dash, to name only a few.  He is also the breeder of champion and champion sire Tempting Dash.

What made him a great man wasn't his degrees, his job, or his activities but who he was. He was a kind and generous man who always made time for those who needed him. He never gave up, even at the end of his life. He will always be remembered for his hugs and smile that beamed when his children or grandchildren entered the room.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Dorothy, brother Gale and sister-in-law Kay, son-in-law Scott Allan, and nephews Grant Nelson and Jacob Muller. He is survived by the mother of his children and lifelong companion, Lola Muller, two loving daughters, Angela and Candace, as well as six granddaughters, Samantha, Sabrina, Alexis, Crista, Danica, and Darianna, brothers Dean and Judi, Dennis and Judy and sister Kathy and Terry Nelson as well as nieces and nephews. Gary was surrounded by those who loved him the most in the last years of his life.

He believed in the redemptive power of Jesus and sits fully healed in heaven with our Lord and Savior. Psalm 103:2-5: "Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."